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Liberia

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Background: Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country continues.Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra LeoneArea land: 96,320 sq kmArea water: 15,049 sq kmCoastline: 579 kmCountry name conventional long form: Republic of LiberiaCountry name conventional short form: LiberiaCountry name former: Republic of LiberiaPopulation: 3,786,764 (July 2011 est.)Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.3% (male 843,182/female 834,922); 15-64 years: 52.7% (male 989,623/female 1,007,577); 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 56,189/female 55,271) (2011 est.);Population growth rate: 2.663% (2011 est.)Birth rate: 37.25 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)Death rate: 10.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female; under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female; 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female; 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female; total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.);Infant mortality rate: total: 74.52 deaths/1,000 live births; male: 78.96 deaths/1,000 live births; female: 69.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.);Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57 years; male: 55.44 years; female: 58.6 years (2011 est.);Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born/woman (2011 est.);HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.5% (2009 est.);HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 37,000 (2009 est.);HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,600 (2009 est.);Nationality: noun: Liberian(s); adjective: Liberian;Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census);Religions: Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census);Languages: English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence;Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 57.5%; male: 73.3%; female: 41.6% (2003 est.);GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.76 billion (2010 est.); $1.66 billion (2009 est.); $1.587 billion (2008 est.);

'Even a world in which nations are driven by self-interest deserves a semblance of moral consistency from a country that arrogates to itself the role of defining what is good for the entire globe,' the Nigerian newspaper This Day observes.

Sarah Coleman reports that the Nigerian press was furious at the announcement that Liberian President Charles Taylor will live the rest of his days in a comfortable exile in a Nigerian government mansion.